The North Face Endurance Team Claims Five Top-15 Finishes at Western StatesGlobal athlete team makes its mark at 36th annual 100-mile runThe North Face, the world’s premier supplier of authentic, innovative and technically advanced outdoor apparel, equipment and footwear, today announced team results of the 100-mile Western States Endurance Run 2009, which took place June 27 – 28, 2009. The North Face Global Team athletes Tsuyoshi Kaburaki (Japan) and Jez Bragg (UK) took second and third, with times of 16:52:06 and 16:54:26, respectively. Kaburaki broke the 40+ men’s age group record by twenty minutes in this year’s Western States. The Japanese veteran is one of the best endurance runners in Japan, having won several number ones at the notorious Mt. Fuji Climbing Race. In recent years, he has been further pushing personal limits on the international stage. Kaburaki won The North Face 100 China in April, and was placed 12th and 4th place in the 166km Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc in 2007 and 2008 respectively. Last year, he also took 3rd place in the 50-mile category at The North Face Endurance Challenge championship race. US-based athletes Leigh Schmitt placed seventh with a time of 17:49:37, and Michael Wardian, who ran a grueling 100k just seven days prior, took 15th overall (13th men’s) with a time of 19:32:08. This was the first Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run for all. After a slow start, three-time Western States 100 champion Nikki Kimball rallied to a fourth place finish in a time of 20:55:43. This is her fourth time running the race and fourth top-five finish. “Endurance running is a sport that spans the globe,” said Aaron Carpenter, VP of Marketing for The North Face. “We are a thriving community with healthy competition that encourages and inspires each other and others to go the distance.” The course started at 6,200 feet in Squaw Valley, California, leading runners up a climb of 2,550 vertical feet in the first 4.5 miles to Emigrant Pass at 8,750 feet. The majority of the trail passes through remote and rugged territory, accessible only to horses, hikers and helicopters. Following the original trails used by the miners of the 1850s, the course travels west, climbing another 15,540 feet and descending 22,970 feet to end in Auburn, California, at 100.2 miles. Runners battled 90+ degree dry heat in this year’s race. For 40 years The North Face has teamed up with the world's finest mountaineers, alpinists, climbers, skiers, snowboarders and endurance adventurers who have defined the limits of what is humanly possible. The North Face Athlete team works closely with Research, Design & Development, creating innovative designs that push new technologies and inspire cutting-edge products. For information on The North Face Endurance Team and where they’ll be next, head to www.thenorthface.com. Coming up next is the fourth race of The North Face 100 Asia Series taking place in Shiga Kogen, Japan on 5 July, in which runners will experience a ranging terrain and panoramic views in the natural wonderland. Also long awaited worldwide is The North Face Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc on 26 – 28 Aug. This year, including Kaburaki, there will be 13 racers coming from Hong Kong, Korea, Japan and Philippines, which is so far the greatest number of runners from Asia, to race in this epitome of endurance run. To find out more about The North Face global endurance events, check out The North Face Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc The North Face Endurance Challenge About The North FaceŽ The North FaceŽ is the world’s premier outdoor brand with global distribution network. Our Asia distributions include China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan*, Korea*, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Nepal, Mongolia, Australia and New Zealand.  |
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